Music Therapy News

Dr. Darlene Brooks of Temple University Returns to Loyola to Commemorate 50 Years of Music Therapy

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Loyola’s music therapy community has had one refreshing and eventful 50^th year. In addition to recital hour performances and regional conference, Loyola’s 50^th anniversary celebration was capped off by a visit from one of the university’s very accomplished and very successful alumni, Darlene Brooks, Associate Professor of Music Therapy, Ph.D, Temple University. Dr. Brooks returned enthusiastically to Loyola’s campus this past spring in the spirit of commemoration and in the name of education and legacy. Most of the music therapy students were introduced to Dr. Brooks in one or more of their Friday music therapy classes where she served as the guest instructor. Also, on Saturday morning, Brooks gave a lecture on Charles Braswell, founder of the music therapy program at Loyola, and how his work toward the advancement of music therapy as both an academic program and a clinical profession brought about significant developments locally, regionally, and even nationally. This lecture was open to the entire Loyola community. Dr. Brooks’ exceptionally inspiring and intellectually passionate way of teaching and speaking left a grand impression upon students, faculty, and other professionals in attendance alike. It is with great pleasure that the Music Therapy Department of Loyola University New Orleans extends heartfelt appreciation to Darlene Brooks, such an amazing woman and educator, for sharing her energy, her passion, her knowledge, and her love for music therapy during such a historical time as this. To Dr. Brooks, a huge thanks.

Loyola Music Therapy Celebrates 50 Years & Salutes Founder
Charles Braswell

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Uniquely music-driven, inherently scholar-supportive, and fifty years new, music therapy at Loyola University New Orleans has something to celebrate. This academic year marks the 50th anniversary of an accredited music therapy degree program at Loyola University. In 1957 a well-trained music therapist and an exceptionally talented concert pianist by the name of Charles Braswell, of Fordyce, Arkansas, was invited to chair an undergraduate program in music therapy. This invitation came about after New Orleans businessman and music therapy advocate Dural Black secured a grant for the provision of music therapy services in New Orleans. DePaul Hospital, a private psychiatric facility, was selected as one of the first sites to employ music therapists and, Loyola University was suggested as a fitting education site. Upon the implementation of the “Music Therapy Fund” at Loyola, the first three music therapy courses were offered.

Charles Braswell was hired as Loyola’s first Director of Music Therapy. Braswell contributed in abounding proportions to the life and legitimacy of music therapy at Loyola University, teaching both music therapy and piano. As an educator, he was intellectually stimulating, one who encouraged his students to develop an independent work ethic and to recognize the value of research in the field of music therapy. He earnestly believed that “the most important contributions we could make to the field were in the area of research.”

Associate Dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts and former student of Mr. Braswell, Dr. Anthony Decuir, describes him as “cerebral,” an outstanding thinker and writer who valued mentoring and intellectual pursuits. Dr. Victoria Vega, Director of Music Therapy at Loyola, worked with Charles Braswell as a graduate student in music therapy. She remembers him as an amazing performer of humble character, an enthusiastic mentor, and one who was always willing to assist and meet the needs of his students.

Braswell worked to expand the music therapy course offerings at Loyola to successfully develop a four-year progressive music therapy curriculum. In addition, Braswell endeavored to make music therapy services available at every treatment facility in Louisiana and designed a cooperative program between Loyola and other universities in order to increase enrollment and to ensure that music therapy students would remain in the state to work.

Charles Braswell also made major contributions to the field of music therapy on the national level. These contributions included organizing and leading sessions on the changing trends in music therapy and treatment on the education of the music therapist, restructuring the national constitution, and creating the South Central region to ensure equal representation.  Also, during his tenure as president of the national organization Braswell laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Code of Ethics for music therapists as well as the national registry to identify qualified music therapists and to measure competence before professional practice in the field. Today, Charles Braswell’s vision for music therapy is indeed a reality. His goals and work ethic tremendously shaped music therapy on a regional and national level. We salute Charles Braswell, Loyola’s Director of Music Therapy, 1957-1993.

When asked about one thing we can do as music therapy students and professionals to promote awareness, to add to the field, and ultimately to keep Mr. Braswell’s vision alive, Dean Decuir replied, “Continue to educate people about music therapy.” Hopefully, we will do just that.

Happy 50th Anniversary Music Therapy at Loyola!

Updated August 23, 2008